State Senate candidate and Orinda Mayor Steve Glazer has secured several key endorsements from prominent Republican and Democratic elected officials, including former Contra Costa County Sheriff and State Senator Dick Rainey and former Congressman Bill Baker, both Republicans and former State Senator and Democratic Majority Leader Gloria Romero.  He has also been endorsed by over two dozen local school and government leaders.

“I support Steve Glazer for State Senate” said Rainey. “He is a rare leader who can constructively find common ground with Republicans and Democrats.”

“Steve Glazer is a public education champion. He will be a powerful advocate in the Senate for our public schools and universities,” said Romero.

Baker admitted that he broke with tradition by endorsing Glazer.

“Normally, I don’t endorse Democrats but Steve Glazer is the clear choice in this State Senate election. He is fiscally conservative. He supports pension reform. He had the courage to take on the BART unions and members of his own party and oppose the strike,” he said. “We picked up two Republicans in the Senate last year, and is he going to be the best by far, yes.”

“I am honored to have received endorsements from community and state leaders that reflect the diversity of my district,” said Glazer. “Being endorsed by former Democratic Majority Leader Gloria Romero and retired Republican Congressman Bill Baker in the same week shows a broad coalition of support for my candidacy.”

“I’m a socially progressive, fiscally conservative leader who can forge alliances with members of both parties. I’m a local Mayor who is focused on problem solving, not partisanship,” said Glazer.

“My opponents believe it is more important to please special interest groups and party leaders rather than the people who sent them to the State Capitol. They have voted for raids on our school district reserves, redirected transportation funds away from local highway and transit improvements and backed the BART union’s right to strike even after their eight-day strike crippled our economy and disrupted the lives of millions of commuters,” said Glazer.  “We need leaders who aren’t afraid to speak out and fight for our interests.”

Glazer also received the endorsement of the Contra Costa Times, which cited him as a “thoughtful centrist.”

Previously, the sole Republican candidate Michaela Hertle dropped out of the race and endorsed Glazer.  Hertle’s name will still appear on the ballot, so she released a statement to members of her party saying, “I’ll still be on the ballot, but I’m voting for Steve Glazer and hope you will too.”

Glazer currently serves as the Mayor of Orinda and a Trustee of the California State University 23-campus system. During his tenure on the Orinda City Council, Glazer has helped balance budgets while making improvements to schools, libraries and roads.

State Senate District 7 includes the communities of Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Sunol and Walnut Creek. 

The primary will be held Tuesday, March 17. 

For more information visit www.GlazerForSenate.com

State Senate candidate Steve Glazer called on his opponents to provide full transparency of their campaign promises by releasing their answers to special interest questionnaires on their webpage.

“Together we can take a positive step to end the hidden agendas and backroom deals that prevent our elected officials from addressing California’s problems in a fair and open manner. I ask you to join me in sharing with voters all of our responses to candidate questionnaires,” said Glazer.

“By publishing our responses on our websites, we will make our race a model of independence from the very special interests that use these questionnaires to pressure candidates into adopting rigid and narrowly drawn positions,” Glazer said in his letter.

To read the letter in its entirety please click this link www.glazerforsenate.com/transparency_pledge_letter

The letter was e-mailed to the three other Senate District 7 candidates:  Joan Buchanan, Susan Bonilla and Terry Kremin.  The fourth candidate Michaela Hertle has withdrawn from the race and endorsed Glazer. Hertle’s name will still appear on the ballot.  So far, none of Glazer’s opponents have opted to publish their answers to questionnaires.

“The focus of our campaigns should be on solutions to the big problems facing our state,” said Glazer. “The voters deserve a thoughtful and fair-minded representative in Sacramento, and they should not be left wondering what sort of promises any of us made to secure that position.”

Glazer currently serves as the Mayor of Orinda and a Trustee of the California State University 23-campus system. During his tenure on the Orinda City Council, Glazer has helped balance budgets while making improvements to schools, libraries and roads.

State Senate District 7 includes the communities of Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Sunol and Walnut Creek. 

The primary will be held Tuesday, March 17. 

In his Assembly race last year, Glazer declined to fill out any special interest questionnaire. However, he posted detailed positons on issues on his website.  Glazer’s positions are now posted on his Senate campaign website at www.glazerforsenate.com/issues.

County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Joseph E. Canciamilla, announces that Monday, March 2, 2015 is the voter registration deadline for the March 17, 2015 7th State Senatorial District Special Primary Election. New voters must register and anyone who has moved or has had a name change must re-register.

Voters may register online at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote/. Voters may also obtain registration forms at government offices including City or County Offices and DMV locations. The completed form must be delivered to the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez no later than 5:00 pm on March 2, 2015, or be postmarked by March 2, 2015.

To be eligible to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen who will be at least 18 years old by March 17, 2015 and not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony. Anyone who becomes a newly naturalized citizen after the March 2, 2015 deadline may register and vote between March 3 and March 17, 2015. New citizens may register at the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez and must present his or her Certificate of Naturalization.

Dear Editor:

The conundrum of the California Democratic Party versus the local Democratic club endorsements. The California Democratic Party endorsement of Susan Bonilla in the State Senate District 7 race was based on the outcome of a vote of 75 local people authorized to vote in this internal party process. A total of 44 additional votes were gathered by Bonilla thanks to a greatly discredited rule that allowed any state legislator currently in office to get ‘proxy’ votes from anywhere in the state. Advantage Incumbents. (The rule’s been removed from the Party By-Laws, but not officially until May, so it was still ‘legal’ to use this procedure).

The Democratic clubs within Senate District 7 that have chosen to make endorsements represent a larger group of people.

Joan Buchanan endorsements:

Rossmoor Democratic Club – 600+ members

Diablo Valley Democratic Club –  70 members

Tri-Valley Democratic Club – 60 members

San Ramon Democratic Club – 73 members

Susan Bonilla endorsements:

Concord Democratic Club – approximately 20 members

Do the math.

Sue Hamill, Walnut Creek

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla announced today that her campaign for State Senate has earned the endorsement of Congressman Jerry McNerney, whose congressional district includes portions of eastern Contra Costa County that are within the 7th State Senate District. McNerney is a widely respected local leader in the region, and has played a crucial role in the protection of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

“Susan Bonilla has the trust and respect of her colleagues. She is known for her leadership and as someone who can work with fellow lawmakers to achieve results in Sacramento. I look forward to working with her as a State Senator, especially in protecting our Delta, providing the best education for our children, and fostering small business invocation and growth in our economy.” McNerney said. “I’m proud to endorse Susan Bonilla’s campaign for State Senate.”

“I’m honored to have the support of Congressman Jerry McNerney in my campaign for State Senate. Congressman McNerney is nationally recognized as a champion of veterans, for building a stronger economy, and for protecting the Delta,” Bonilla said. “We both share a strong commitment to preserving this great natural resource. In the State Senate, I will continue to voice my strong opposition to the Delta twin tunnel proposal, which would recklessly divert water out of our region.”

Bonilla has built a strong base of support and strong momentum. In addition to the receiving the Democratic Party endorsement, She’s recently earned the support of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier – who represented this district before being elected to Congress this fall, Congressman Mike Thompson, former Congresswoman and Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher, PORAC, AFSCME, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and the California Professional Firefighters.

Candidates in the 7th State Senate District special election, from left, Steve Glazer, Susan Bonilla, Joan Buchanan (in blue) and Terry Kremin, discuss the issues during a recent forum.

If you live within the boundaries of the 7th State Senate District, your mailbox has likely been overflowing with campaign materials over the past few weeks.  Now you can find out firsthand from the candidates themselves where they stand on the issues, with Contra Costa Television (CCTV) broadcasting a pair of election forums through March 16.

One candidate forum was held at an East Bay Leadership Council event on February 11, and the second roundtable, moderated by columnist Tom Barnidge of the Contra Costa Times, was recorded at CCTV on February 17.  The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and Contra Costa County Elections co-sponsored both events.

Four candidates are seeking to fill the spot vacated by former State Senator/current Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.  Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, former Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, Orinda City Councilman Steve Glazer and teacher Dr. Terry Kremin are vying for the seat.  A fifth candidate, the only Republican to enter the race, Michaela Hertle, dropped out too late for her name to be removed from ballots.  Vote by Mail ballots have already been sent to voters registered to receive them, with Election Day taking place on Tuesday, March 17. 

Airdates on Contra Costa Television for the CCTV forum are: Saturday, February 21, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.; Monday, February 23, 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, February 26, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 1, 7:00 p.m.; Monday, March 2, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 15, 7:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 16, 8:00 p.m.

Airdates on Contra Costa Television for the East Bay Leadership Council’s forum are:  Saturday, February 21, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 22, 8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, February 24, 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 1, 9:00 p.m.; Monday, March 2, 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, 9:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 8, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 14, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 15, 8:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 16, 9:00 p.m.

CCTV is found on Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32, and AT&T U-verse channel 99.  You can also watch the forums online, by visiting the Video on Demand page of the CCTV website at www.contracostatv.org.

Residents will be able to save postage and time with expanding vote-by-mail program

Contra Costa residents residing in the 7th Senatorial District will find it easier to vote during the upcoming March 17th Special Primary Election, as the County Elections Office and City Clerks are again teaming up to provide convenient “CoCo Vote-N-Go” drop off locations prior to and on Election Day.

Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Walnut Creek are participating for the March 17th Election (these are all the cities that are in the 7^th Senatorial District). The secure, steel drop-off boxes will be in place at the listed city halls, starting the week of February 23rd – one week after permanent vote-by-mail ballots are mailed. Days and hours of availability will vary by city.

“We are excited to continue working with our city partners to be able to offer voters the opportunity to cast vote-by-mail ballots in their local communities,” said Joe Canciamilla, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters. “We urge voters to take advantage of this service for this Special Election.”

The distinguishable red boxes will be available during normal city business hours. City staff members will also have the popular “I Voted” stickers upon request for those who drop off their ballots. Contra Costa voters can drop their ballot at any city hall, regardless of where they live. County elections officials will regularly pick up collected ballots.

Ballots may also be dropped off between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm at the County Elections Office in Martinez, located at 555 Escobar Street, or at any polling place on Election Day.

For more information about voting by mail, call 925-335-7800 or visit the County Elections website at www.cocovote.us.